Here are the headlines Peggy Heinkel-Wolfe read on-air this week:
Property tax hike likely
The city’s finance staff signaled this week that a property tax hike is on the horizon, telling city leaders that Denton needs a 4-cent increase to cover the debt in next year’s budget.
If the increase comes to pass, it would erase years of property tax relief. The average Denton homeowner will pay about $241 more in property taxes the end of the year. In addition, the increase comes as the city also plans hikes in utility rates for water, sewer and solid waste. Denton Municipal Electric may also increase its rates in October—the third electric rate increase this year.
Ten years ago, Denton’s property tax rate was 69 cents per $100 valuation. Over several years, a former city manager lowered that rate and kept the city humming with a rate in the mid-50s. New growth and rising property values covered the debt service. That’s not happening anymore.
City Council member Paul Meltzer pushed back on a finance staff analysis that some of the higher tax bill is coming from higher values—or new wealth to the homeowner.
Paul Meltzer: “It just irks me—it’s not personally directed at you—it’s a constant habit I’ve heard for decades, where particularly elected officials act like, ‘nothing we can do about the fact that your values went up.’ I appreciate the fact that you do try to put some meaning to that—that it’s wealth that you have and we’re effectively taxing that. I think the way many people feel is that doesn’t affect my ability to pay.”
Council member Vicki Byrd pushed further, saying that more than half the homes in Denton are rentals. Rising property values don’t translate into wealth for tenants. Instead, she said that it could trigger more rent increases.
The certified tax rolls will be released in about 10 days. A week later, the city manager’s budget and proposed tax rate comes out. The city council is scheduled to discuss it all on Aug. 10.
More information at cityofdenton.com.
Food waste getting diverted
A program to divert food waste from the landfill is moving into the next phase after the Solid Waste Department proved the effort could work in a pilot program. The city used grant money to buy a special grinder and digester to process the food waste at the sewage treatment plant. Then, last summer, the staff recruited 30 downtown businesses—most of them restaurants—to the pilot program, asking them to toss their food waste in a separate bin.
According to a staff memo, the program diverted about 7 percent of the total waste collected from those downtown businesses, and with little contamination.
Food waste makes up about 32 percent of Denton’s waste stream, so the city got approval from state environmental officials to continue the program.
In the next phase, the department is planning to manage the food waste from Denton schools and universities. The department’s long-term plan would divert food waste citywide.
More information at cityofdenton.com.
More time to get disaster help
The federal government has extended the application deadline to August 15 for homes and businesses damaged in the spring storms from May 26 to June 5. The Denton County location for disaster recovery closed this week, but the disaster recovery center in Cooke County will remain open through the August deadline. Denton County residents may visit in person from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. at Valley View Elementary School in Valley View to get application help. Applications are also available online. The Small Business Administration offers low-cost disaster recovery loans to both homes and businesses affected by the big weather. More information at sba.gov.
Hands-on learning with the master naturalists
Volunteers with the Texas Master Naturalists are showcasing opportunities in Denton, Cooke and Wise Counties on Thursday at the Denton County Elections Building. More information at txmn.org/elmfork.
Or, learn to fly
Teens can learn about aviation careers in a new program based at Denton Enterprise Airport during a pair of open houses on Wednesday, July 31, and Wednesday, August 14. More information at dentonairport.com/exploring.
Happy Birthday, KUZU!
And KUZU turns 7 years old this weekend. Celebrate Seven Revolutions around the Sun in an all-ages show at Rubber Gloves Saturday night featuring local bands and your favorite KUZU DJs. More information at kuzu.fm.
Local News currently airs each Wednesday at 10 a.m. on KUZU 92.9 FM-LP in Denton, Texas, with rebroadcasts airing at 3 p.m. Thursday, and 6 a.m. and 7 p.m. Friday. The Weekend Edition of Local News airs each Saturday at 4 p.m., with rebroadcasts at 9 p.m. and midnight; and 8 a.m. and 9 p.m. Sunday.
Send news tips by email to newsonkuzu@protonmail.com or by calling 940-241-7531.
On air since 2017, KUZU is Denton’s only volunteer-run, nonprofit community radio station. You can learn more and listen online at kuzu.fm.
Local News and Weekend Edition scripts are published on Substack. Subscribe for free at peggyheinkelwolfe.substack.com and follow live microblogging of Local News on Mastodon @phwolfe940@denton.social. Peggy is an award-winning, veteran journalist and a Denton County resident since 1993.